I say it a lot…your story matters. We adopted this phrase a number of years ago when we were rebranding our site, as well took at look at the kinds of writers—like you—who plug into our courses and teaching at Novel.Academy. I know we’re a little different—we’re not just about teaching you how to write well, but focusing on WHY you write, and WHY we must be at the top of our game.
Because…your story matters.
But WHY does your story matter?
I’m standing in my new office as I write this—(pix below…it’s still not finished, but close!). I’m so thrilled to have my own space, finally (after 6 years of waiting) to hunker down and write.
During our remodel, at one time, we employed an architect who asked…”Why do you need your own space? Can’t you write anywhere?”
Well, um, yes. I’ve written in the basketball bleachers, and in the theater auditorium while waiting for play practice to finish, in the car in the school parking lot, in airport concourses, and on pool picnic tables, in campers and at the kitchen counter and anywhere my laptop will travel. So, sure…I can write anywhere.
But I wanted an office space (my friend uses her closet!) so I could walk away from the world and listen.
Listen to God speaking to me as I write. Listen to my memories remind me of what I’ve learned. Listen to my characters tell me why they hurt…
Listening. It’s key to being a great writer.
First…we need to listen to the pain in our world, and give our characters that pain. Why? Because, as I’ve mentioned, a great story is a testimony. But we can not write with an agenda. As soon as we do that, our reader turns off. I HATE when I read a book where the author is trying to pound something over my head.
Nope.
What I want is to discover truths as my character interacts with his journey. And that means making my character a seeker. Making him real.
So how do you do that?
Second…Listen to yourself. How have you felt like your character? How did you process your pain? How did you act, feel, think? Would your character act, feel, think in a similar way? Use this touchpoint to make him believable. And then he’ll discover his answer naturally.
How?
Third…Listen to God. Many times in a book I’ve been stumped by how to show truth. And then I just ask God to open a door in the story. To show me a metaphor, a moment, a character—something that could deliver truth. It’s amazing to me how every. single. time, God comes through. (Hey! There’s a verse about that…(James 1:5).)
I recently had a moment as I was writing when I realized that God had set up the epiphany of my character in book 6 with something that happened in book 1…something I had never planned (but God did!)
We often think, in order to write an inspirational book, we need to pull out our 4 spiritual laws. No. It might be one sentence, one metaphor, one simple act that serves as the powerful moment in your story. Just, go with what God does, the doors he opens, and let your character free to discover his journey…and trust God’s power to transform.
In other words, write with God.
Your story matters because it has a purpose bigger than you, a purpose God has ordained for it. And it started before you picked up your pen…
Are you willing to surrender your story to God?
I leave you with this: Romans 10:14: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Your story matters.
Go, write something brilliant this week!
Susie May
P.S We have a new Brilliant Bundle!! And this one contains how to create SCENE TENSION. Fantastic class if you struggle with writing a powerful scene. (as well as tips and trick for your NaNoWriMo project). Oh, and if you’re an indie author…a great class on where to advertise. 🙂 Only $7.00. Get it before it disappears!